U-turn on plates inspection

The NZTA has delayed the registration plate amendment it had planned to roll out on March 1.

The agency had already previewed the introduction of plate inspections for warrants and certificates of fitness, as reported by Autofile Online on January 5.

However, following feedback from the industry and trailer manufacturers, it now says it recognises “there are a lot of questions relating to this change”.

A spokesman for the NZTA adds: “As a result, we’re delaying the introduction of the registration plate inspection.

“In the meantime, we’ll be addressing questions raised and providing better clarity around how vehicles can comply – primarily trailers. We’ll consider the option of a staged or longer implementation timeframe to make it easier to comply.

“We appreciate the feedback provided to date and apologise for the delay in this notification. Once we’re in a position to provide information, we’ll send a new VIRM preview allowing further opportunity to provide feedback.”

The NZTA says plates are a key tool for enforcement officers when identifying and addressing poor driver behaviour. If they are missing or are hard to read, it affects the quality of information gathered by on-road patrols, cameras with automatic plate recognition, CCTV systems and witness statements.